Echinodorus tenellus (Amazon Sword) - Plant

Echinodorus tenellus, commonly known as Dwarf Chain Sword, is a popular foreground aquarium plant with grass-like leaves and carpeting growth. It is a very unusual Echinodorus and resembles more of a hair grass .Its bright green runners spread across the substrate, creating a lawn effect that works well in both nature aquascapes and community planted aquariums.

Compared to more demanding carpeting plants such as Hemianthus callitrichoides or Glossostigma, Echinodorus tenellus is generally easier to grow and more forgiving. Under stronger lighting and nutrient-rich conditions, the plant can remain shorter and denser while producing faster horizontal runners.

Echinodorus tenellus feeds heavily through its roots and benefits greatly from nutrient-rich substrate or regular root tab supplementation. Medium to high lighting encourages compact growth and spreading, while injected CO₂ improves density, growth speed, and overall carpet formation.

Separate Echinodorus tenellus into small plantlets and plant them individually into nutrient-rich substrate with a few centimetres between each portion. Ensure the roots are buried while keeping the crown above substrate level.

Medium to high lighting is recommended to encourage compact growth and spreading runners. CO₂ is optional but highly beneficial for faster carpet development and denser growth. Supplement with root tabs regularly if using inert substrate and trim older leaves as needed to maintain a tidy foreground appearance.